Meeting changes and ideas

[firefish2020]

Many thought this meeting was boring We need ideas that will make the meetings more FUN & educational for those wanting to learn. After the meeting we toyed around with some ideas that will help drive our numbers higher, today was 30+ turnout, not bad for a cold day. Here are a few ideas that were brought up.

1. We buy a rare coral frag with funds raise at the swap, frag it place a frag here in Nitro and one in Ky. After those frags reach a certain size we frag them into about 5 pieces and GIVE those pieces out to various members. Those members promise not to sell any frags of this coral until they have given at least one frag of it away to another member. When they are ready to be given away you can bring it to a meeting and we can draw out a name from members that are interested. We can issue ID cards that can track who has received what corals. If anyone violates the promise by not giving a frag away they would loose their ID and be banned from any future give-aways.

2. Return of games, we used to have some fun games at our old meetings and everyone had fun even if the didn't win anything. Be creative and everyone send me at least one game idea for the next meeting.

3. Incentives for newbies to return. We always average about 5 new members per meet but we almost never see the same people return. Lets fix this, we need a "Welcome to the CVRC pack for these members."

4. Everyone who can donate a coral needs to bring at least one from now on for the club raffle. We need to fill that tank up next time guys. Also this helps to raise money so we can have
bigger & better meetings.

5.This meeting raised $65 plus the generous donation from the mortgage guy of $200. Maria is going to work with Igosalt to get all of our finances in order and come up with a budget for the next meeting. Most of the money from last meeting paid for the two new tables.

In the beginning we created this "club" with the intent of helping others achieve there dreams. We put many "rare" coral in the hands of strangers who sometimes disappeared and other times stayed on to become core members. We started from a small group dedicated to helping others, we can not loose sight of this goal.

 

[LtPiper]

I love that first idea Ron. however one stipulation should be added and that's if the coral happens to get lost eaten or dies they would still be able to participate since they couldn't give out a frag from it.,

 

[MattG]

They have something similiar to #1 here in dallas.

Basically you offer a frag of something you have and whoever recieves it has to donate a frag of it once it grows out to a different person. Seems like a really cool idea. Of course only paying members are allowed to do it with the dallas club which cuts out the folks just looking for a freebie. Not sure how you could prevent that with the CVRC but im sure it could be done.

 

[firefish2020]

Worry not rules will be posted soon.

 

[Tazbader]

A couple of ideas..... as far as the newbies of which I guess I am one, In the packet I think it would be a good idea to get some info on peoples tanks, ie. size, type, lighting, filtration, and stock. It would serve as a database of sorts that we could use to gear future demos or talks. Actually it would be good I think to build a repository of sorts where all chemreefers info on relating to tanks past and present were represented. It's purpose would be 2 fold:

1. It could help get people together with similar interests, spsers and softies, fishies,etc.
2. It would be very helpful in terms of experiences. Say someone was having an issue with a coral - they could ask others that have also kept that coral if they have had the same issues, maybe offer solutions, or even share failures(sometimes even more important), to help avoid others making the same mistakes.

All this could serve us very well I think in the long run, not only would it help us save some inverts and fish (conservation) but it would also get people to band together a little more.... which in the long run would reduce turnover. Not to mention if someone did lose a coral or something, they might be able to use the repository as an avenue to get it replaced.
The other idea I had was that we should expand on having a thread come up around meeting time that people could post what they were going to bring, whether it was food or corals, or maybe to throw out some feelers to see what people would want you to bring like phljess did. I realize that this was done, I would just like to see others take advantage of it more..... ok I'm done thx

 

[phljess]

All this could serve us very well I think in the long run, not only would it help us save some inverts and fish (conservation) but it would also get people to band together a little more.... which in the long run would reduce turnover. Not to mention if someone did lose a coral or something, they might be able to use the repository as an avenue to get it replaced.
The other idea I had was that we should expand on having a thread come up around meeting time that people could post what they were going to bring, whether it was food or corals, or maybe to throw out some feelers to see what people would want you to bring like phljess did. I realize that this was done, I would just like to see others take advantage of it more..... ok I'm done thx

Yes, I did this but no one said hey please bring blank or blank. So when I came to the meeting people said"hey why did you not bring blank or blank"and I said because no one said they wanted me to. When it comes to nice SPS colonies I really do not want to frag pieces unless they are undergrowths and if people really want something from now on they need to tell me or I will not frag it.

 

[firefish2020]

Yes Phil, this is why I only had a video frame of my coral and no tank. I think we are getting to many looking for "deals" and not interested in the actual group or becoming a part of something larger.

 

[stumpy08]

First of all, I really appreciate what the leaders of this group have done with this club. I hope that I don't offend anyone with my suggestions.

1. More organization. There should be someone at the door to had out a itinerary of what will take place at the meeting. The meeting was supposed to start at 2:30. I don't think it started until almost 4:00. I don't know very many people so my wife and I just stood around waiting for something to happen. I saw some people talking to Phil and looking at corals but I wasn't sure if that was part of the meeting or if people were just talking to him because they knew him. I figured out later on that people were buying coral.
2. Everyone should have name tags that says what their forum name is along with their real name. I would reconize allot of forum names but I think the only one I knew was Ron.
3. I think a "ask the expert" session would be great. There is several people that has been doing this for along time and it would be nice to ask them questions.

I think Ron had some real good ideas too!

 

[phljess]

We usually have a greeter at the door but since the swap strarted late maybe someone forgot to do this.

Name tags are also nice and have been used before, you have a good point.

There are no experts in the club but there are longterm members.

 

[firefish2020]

Very good point and ideas, all of which must be addressed by next meet.

 

[Lee_Bay]

Group Projects

Group Projects

I don't want to get involved in the politics of the club, and I haven't been able to make it to a meeting, but I will throw some meeting ideas into the mix. Someone mentioned CORA as an example, so I will "borrow" one of their meeting ideas. As a group, they all got together and designed (with the help of GEO) and made the "KALKENSTEIN" kalkwasser reactor.

It seems to me that any successful meeting is one where everyone gets involved. I know that not every meeting can be a "let's build one of these" type meetings, buy why not once a year build a group project.

Just a thought.

 

[firefish2020]

100% agreed


Again we did this, we made rock, showed how to build ATO systems. Good stuff and we will be returning shortly provided we are all in agreement.

 

[phljess]

I can show people how to build a kalk reactor but they would have to purchase the supplies. Again this would be a project we would need to collect some money for in advance to get what is needed to build them. If we build them out of acrylic it could cost quite a bit.

 

[foxesreef]

Let me first say that my thread yesterday was not meant to be negative in any way, because without you all this would not even be a club. I merely meant to shed some light on some things I (just my .02) think would help.

I like the thoughts you all have put together. I believe your dedication to this club has brought it to where it is and will take us to greater places. Some of us are not to the level of expertise that you all are at and may never be but we still want help to grow our our reef.

I do not know the action and purpose for the kalk reactor yet. Yes I can research and read and will, but some of us are slower than others.

Also, if there is a meeting that I cannot make it to, can I still donate by dropping something off to Ron or possibly a donation? Could that work? I want to see this club be there for me as well as everyone else, so I will give, if not my time, then with donations.

Thanks to all (Ron and Phil especially),

L'Louise

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11941504#post11941504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MattG
They have something similiar to #1 here in dallas.

Basically you offer a frag of something you have and whoever recieves it has to donate a frag of it once it grows out to a different person. Seems like a really cool idea. Of course only paying members are allowed to do it with the dallas club which cuts out the folks just looking for a freebie. Not sure how you could prevent that with the CVRC but im sure it could be done.

Their program is one of the ones we're basing this one on.

2. Everyone should have name tags that says what their forum name is along with their real name. I would reconize allot of forum names but I think the only one I knew was Ron.

Like Phil said we use to have name tags but I guess they disappeared. The people sitting in front of you were odoprelude (Chris) and coralreefer (Amy). Also the disorganization is something we are actively addressing.

In the packet I think it would be a good idea to get some info on peoples tanks, ie. size, type, lighting, filtration, and stock. It would serve as a database of sorts that we could use to gear future demos or talks. Actually it would be good I think to build a repository of sorts where all chemreefers info on relating to tanks past and present were represented.

Good idea. How about we start a thread and all members list their tank(s) specs.? I know I have trouble keeping up with who has what in terms of tank and equipment.

L'Louise I didn't take you thread as negative at all.
A kalk reactor is one of several methods used to deliver kalkwasser (limewater), which is a balanced alkalinity & calcium supplement, to your tank

 

[phljess]

I thought about how we could do some special builds or other cool things for the meetings coming up. I was trying to figure out how we could finance these ideas that I had and this is why I thought dues might be a good idea.

Well, we all see where that idea took us. But on a brighter note, I thought if people are really behind something you do not have to charge them dues to do it, you could just offer it out and see if there is enough interest to actually go with it.

For example the kalkreactor. If club members would like to build one I have a design I made that has worked for a year on my tank very well. Or we could build the GEO design but it would cost more. If I remember correctly, it costs about $40.00 plus a mj pump to build my reactor. If anyone would want to build these they could give money to an officer or council member at the next meeting, we could buy the supplies to build them and if there is any money left over it could go into the clubs general funds or be redistributed back to members who participated. But the real key to these projects would be getting enough people to actually put up the money and wait for three months to do the build. Another cool build would be wiring some ballasts and lights to show people how to make a great reef light for under $100.00 without the bulb of course because everyone has their own preference there. Another thing we could build would be sumps,etc...etc..... There are tons of cool mini-projects that could be built but they may take over two hours to complete.

Just a thought now you can go on about your business.

 

[stevebeaver]

"Another cool build would be wiring some ballasts and lights to show people how to make a great reef light for under $100.00 without the bulb of course because everyone has their own preference there"
thats a good idea.
also if you ever do the small group demos some have mentioned, i could do one on making good soldier joints, and how to make them look clean, and professional. which comes in handy when wiring and or fixing cooling fans, and lighting.

 

[spinnerbayt]

Thats kind of what I tried to do with the demo I did on the ODNO lights. (I think you missed that one phil) I have been using ODNO for about 3 years now on FW planted tanks and also my reef. Cheap and effective. I can alway show how to do it again for those who missed it.

 

[phljess]

I saw your demo and it was great. But what I have in mind is a little different than demos. I think we should actually help people do the builds. everyone would put money together that wants to do the build and then the next meet we would all do the actual build together. This way people that do not know what they are doing can get help. Also if we build twenty of something we would probably get some price breaks from the sellers we get the parts from.

 

[firefish2020]

Phil is proposing a "Lab" and that sounds great to me.